Category: Scam Call

Automated Scammer Calls

PPI callers and many others have been using automated systems for years that call and ask you questions then get you to press a button to be connected to an agent.

Automated systems are a lot cheaper than staff so for the criminals engaged in large scale scamming, this can be the most efficient way.

Action Fraud Technical Support Scam Calls

Action Fraud say people are receiving cold-calls from fraudsters claiming to represent Action Fraud. When the calls are answered, an automated voice asks the responder to “press 1 if you have made a report to Action Fraud.” When the responder presses 1, they are transferred to a fraudster.

Victims are informed that their computers have been hacked, which has led to their online bank account being compromised and funds being withdrawn. One particular victim was told that £40,000 had fraudulently left their account.

The scammer may ask for remote access to the victim’s computer, via a remote access tool. Once the scammer has that, they may be able to access confidential information, login and passwords, credit card details etc.

HMRC

This scam sees people called randomly with an automated message warning that they are under investigation by HMRC and need to call the number given or “face serious legal consequences.”

If you call back the crooks will likely ask for your bank details and make off with your money.

HMRC does not make threatening phone calls. HMRC will call people about outstanding tax bills, and sometimes use automated messages, however it would include your taxpayer reference number.

Sophie’s Story

Sophie says

“I have had an automated phone call from this number 081233472243. It was informing me that my internet connection would be cut at 1pm today, press button 1 to speak to an agent or button 2 to stay connected. I chose to hang up.

This is the first time I have had an automated call, I have had a lot of calls lately concerning my internet connection, I always hang up or sometimes they hang up when I tell them I don’t believe they’re from TalkTalk. They always ask me to turn my computer on, I always refuse.”

Good job she didn’t fall for the scam.

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The BT Support Internet Scam

This is a latest version of the support call scam.

The Fightback Ninja received a call from ‘Agnes’ at BT support.

She told me they have found that my Internet connection is not working properly and that my IP address shows up as being in California. So they suspect someone has illegally gained access to my Internet connection and that is bad.

Once they have checked they will be able to help me to block this problem.

I just agreed with her as she listed each step, knowing this to be a stupid scam but interested in the process the scammers go through to steal from people.

There were a lot of people talking in her background and I complained that I could hardly hear over the noise. She told me I could hear perfectly well. ‘Agnes’ is a bossy scammer.

Agnes then asked me to check my IP address and said she could explain how to do that.

I checked online and my IP address of course shows my real location, not California as ‘Agnes’ claimed.

Agnes was now getting angry when I told her I could see on screen that the IP address was showing its location correctly. And she accused me of telling stories.

I told her I wasn’t a lying cheating scammer like her.

Then she put the phone down as it was obvious I wasn’t going to be scammed.

These horrible people will take money from anyone – do not believe cold callers unless you can prove who they are and what they say.  Anyone cold calling your home about your Internet connection is almost certainly a scammer.

Note: If you want to know the IP address for your device  there are various ways to check depending on what  device you’re using but a simple website such as https://www.iplocation.net/ will tell you your current IP address and also give you the apparent location of that IP address.

The apparent location will likely show the nearest town but sometimes may show the location of your Internet Service Provider instead so don’t be concerned if that’s the case.

The apparent IP location is generally unimportant – it’s mostly just for the curious.

If you have any experiences with scammers, spammers or time-waster do let me know, by email.

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Covid Relief on Credit Cards

There are many Coronavirus scams to do with protective equipment, fake treatments, priority access to vaccines, government grants etc.

This latest scam uses cold calling – the scammers call or you get a computerised message on your answering service.

The message says they can offer 0% interest on a new credit card due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

To sweeten the deal, they will also transfer over to their card all of your current credit card debts and they will do this for free and then offer 0% interest on those debts as well.

All sounds great but obviously is lies as anyone offering 0% interest for more than a short period is going to go bankrupt.

Never trust such callers and never respond to computerised messages. They simply want your card details so they can steal from you.

If you want a better deal for credit than you currently have – research the offers available and make sure they are genuine before signing up for anything.

If you have any experiences with these scams do let me know, by email.

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The Track and Trace Scam

Across the UK, Track and Trace operations are working to contain each incidence of Coronavirus.

When someone tests positive for Coronavirus, then the relevant call centre contacts the person and asks for details of anyone they have been in close contact with, then they are also contacted.
All relevant people are then asked to self isolate for the following 14 days and where relevant to get a Coronavirus test as quickly as possible.

Scammers are finding ways to take advantage of this unusual situation and send texts or make calls pretending to be from a Track and Trace centre.

They say something like “Someone who came into contact with you tested positive or has shown symptoms for COVID-19 and you need to self-isolate / get tested. More at COVID-19anon.com/alert”.

That website will have a name that looks to do with Coronavirus but is of course fake.

The website is setup to get your confidential information and they will do the same with anyone you name as having been in close contact with.

The whole thing is an exercise in identity theft.

If you get a genuine call from Track and Trace – they will know your name and details already and will not ask for financial information or passwords etc.

The only genuine web site used by Track and Trace in England is https://contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk/

If a caller does not know who you are – then it’s a fake call – do not argue with them, just put the phone down.

Track And Trace England use the number 0300 013 5000 for their calls and anything else is a scammer.

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The Most Common Phone Scams

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau estimate that around one third of all fraud is carried out by telephone.

The most common phone scams are:-

  1. Computer Support Scam
  2. A Fraud Investigation
  3. An Investment Opportunity

e.g. A phone call telling you that your computer has a problem or is being used by hackers or has been sending out spam emails or anything similar will worry people and then the scammer claims to have the solution. The scammer normally poses as a worker at Microsoft or Virgin Broadband or Apple or BT or similar well known company. The caller offers a solution to the problem – at a price of course. If allowed access to your company they will steal whatever confidential information they can get.

Computer support companies will never phone you like this.

Fraud investigation scams calls are usually made by scammers claiming to be HMRC or Metropolitan Police or the FBI.  They talk about some kind of threat or illegal activity, but the authorities never make such calls. The scammers want to frighten you then force you to pay a fine.

Callers offering investment opportunities are wide ranging and always scams as no reputable investment business would cold call people they know nothing about. Never trust a caller’s sales pitch without verifying it.

If you have any experiences with scammers, spammers or time-waster do let me know, by email.

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Ministry of Justice Fake Callers

The scam involves a telephone call from someone claiming to be from the Ministry of Justice or other government department. The target person is typically told that they are eligible to receive payments such as the repayment of bank charges, tax, fraud, debts or any other charges.

Targets are asked to give personal information, such as date of birth, address, bank details, passport ID etc. Then they are asked to make payments using untraceable methods such as Western Union or by gift card.

This should ring alarm bells for the targets but many pay up even when asked to pay in UKash vouchers or PaysafeCard.

These callers have no connection with the Ministry of Justice, or other parts of government.

They seek your personal data in order to sell the details to other criminals por to engage in identity theft.

If you have been a victim and paid money via the Ukash voucher scheme, contact UKash immediately on 0808 234 6244 (open 24 hours) to see if the payment can be blocked. For further information see the warnings on the Ukash website.

If you have been a victim and paid money via Paysafecard, contact the company immediately on 0845 021 3059 (open 24 hours) to see if the payment can be blocked. For further information see the Paysafecard website.

The Ministry of Justice takes seriously any attempt to misappropriate its identity or that of its agencies, associated offices and official logo’s and will investigate any such incidents of misuse and take appropriate action where necessary.

Any correspondence, like letters or emails apparently from the Ministry of Justice that request private information, should be treated with extreme caution. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of such communications, please contact Ministry of Justice on 020 3334 3555 or online.

If you have any experiences with scammers, spammers or time-wasters do let me know, by email.

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